FOXSYLVANIA

Now here’s an idea from antiquity that we moderns could really benefit from adopting! Although the Egyptian pharaohs were considered as gods by their subjects, usually in the 30th year of a pharaoh’s reign and every three years after that, he had to prove his worth by participating in a footrace during the Heb-Sed or Sed festival! During this observance, they might construct temples and sculptures. The tradition dated back to the first dynasty of ancient Egypt, around 3,000 BCE…

Now it gets better! The pharaoh while competing was dressed in a kilt with an attached animal tail! I am so envious…they had animal-headed deities, plus their king got to act like a furry, all to demonstrate their physical fitness for office! If a pharaoh couldn’t complete the race, it meant that it was time for a younger, healthier ruler as the ancient Egyptians related the health of their head honcho to the overall health and vitality of the kingdom…

Since 30 years was a long time against the life span of an ancient Egyptian, only a small percentage of pharaohs lived long enough to celebrate a Heb-Sed, and many kings and queens were troubled with various maladies caused by inbreeding. Still, the idea of running a footrace to prove physical fitness might be worth incorporating into the American political system. Healthy mind in a healthy body, ‘ya know. I’ll bet that Kamala could have run the course…I doubt that the Orange Dude would have. I’d race, if I got to wear a fox tail…better a partial fursuit than none, I always say…

All of this shows us once again why the ancient Egyptians rocked!